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Record of Proceedings

Providence City Council Meeting on September 4, 2025

City Council — Thursday, September 4, 2025
BodyProvidence, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, September 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:09:31

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5:29

Thumbs up all around.

5:32

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this uh Previden City Council meeting on September 4th.

5:37

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

5:39

Council President Miller, present.

5:41

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois is absent.

5:44

Majority Leader Espinall.

5:46

Present.

5:51

Councilwoman Graves.

5:52

Present.

5:53

Deputy Majority Leader Harris is absent.

5:56

Councilwoman Peterson.

5:58

Hi, Council President Pro Tempore Picciardo.

6:04

Present.

6:05

Councilor Royus.

6:07

Present.

6:08

Councilwoman Ryan.

6:09

Present.

6:10

Majority Whip Sanchez.

6:13

Councilman Taylor.

6:15

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent.

6:18

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

6:20

Here.

6:20

You have ten present and four absent.

6:23

You have a quorum.

6:24

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

6:26

Will everyone please rise for the invocation tonight?

6:33

Counselors, as we are gathered here tonight, we know that the students are back to school.

6:39

We know the teachers are back to school.

6:42

And in many ways, we ourselves feel like a back to school moment.

6:46

And I I know that we wish strength and blessings for everyone who's undertaking a new school year, a new project, and also for us as we recommit to our work to the city, um, to one another.

7:02

As always, as we humble humbly ask for guidance so that the decisions we make here today support all of the residents of our great city and that we work with each other with integrity, we honor one another's uh opinions and uh personhood and decision making.

7:24

Um I'd like to share a quote that was from the 1500s and is equally uh important today.

7:33

As we contemplate the vast amount of work to be done for justice and peace in this world, we trust that we will find the grace to accomplish, to believe in, and to hope for the greatest things.

7:43

As we gather here, we look for grace in the smallest things and are sustained by our confidence in God's presence in our work and in our gatherings from St.

7:52

Peter Faber in the 1500s.

7:55

And uh we express gratitude for each other for the work that we do and for the ability to be able to make the decisions and do the work ahead of us.

8:10

Thank you.

8:11

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Majority Leader Espinell.

8:16

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

8:24

One nation, under God, indivisible, walliberty, and justice for all.

8:33

Madam Clerk, item three.

8:35

Madam President.

8:36

Majority leader.

8:40

Second, Madam President.

8:41

We have a motion and a second.

8:43

Any discussion?

8:44

All in favor.

8:46

Any opposed, any abstentions?

8:48

Hearing none, the motion passes.

8:49

Item four.

8:50

Madam President.

8:51

Majority leader.

8:52

What should the way the reading would have four through thirteen?

8:55

Second, Madam President.

8:56

We have a motion and a second.

8:57

Any discussion on items four through thirteen.

9:00

Madam President.

9:01

Uh Pro Tem P Jack.

9:02

Not on uh item four, but uh item number three, since it doesn't change the vote.

9:07

I would like to be recorded as abstain on the approval of the minutes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Recognition████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Personnel Matters███████████████15%
Immigrant Heritage Month███████████11%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Historic Preservation████4%
Budget Equity Analysis█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Providence City Council Meeting – September 4, 2025

The Providence City Council convened on September 4, 2025, with 10 members present and 4 absent, establishing a quorum. The meeting included a moment of silence for overdose awareness, tributes to deceased community members and retirees, approvals of calendar items, and resolutions regarding school transparency and community recognition.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 4 through 13 were approved unanimously on a voice vote. Council member Pro Tempore Picciardo abstained on approval of the minutes (item 3). Items 4–11 were received and referred to the Committee on Finance, item 11 to finance, and items 12 and 13 were received as noted.
  • Items 14 through 25 were approved unanimously on a voice vote; items 14–20 and 22–25 were referred to the Committee on Finance, item 21 to the Committee on Ordinances.
  • Items 26 and 27 were approved unanimously on a voice vote.
  • Item 28 was approved unanimously on a voice vote and referred to the Committee on Ordinances.
  • Item 29 was approved unanimously on a voice vote.
  • Item 30 was approved unanimously on a voice vote and referred to the Special Committee on Hope.
  • Items 31 through 33 were approved unanimously on a voice vote.
  • Items 34 and 35 were approved unanimously on a voice vote.
  • Items 36 through 48 were approved unanimously on a voice vote; item 36 was referred to Claims and Pending Suits, item 37 to Public Works, item 38 to Claims and Pending Suits, and items 39–48 were received as noted.
  • Item 49 was approved unanimously on a voice vote.
  • Item 50 was approved unanimously on a voice vote.
  • Rule 16 B was suspended to take a matter not on the printed docket; item 51 was then received and approved unanimously on a voice vote.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 30 – Gilbert Stewart School Demolition Oversight: Council member Picciardo introduced a resolution to halt demolition of the Gilbert Stewart School until final architectural designs and cost estimates are completed and reviewed by an independent cost estimator. He stated the goal is to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility, and meaningful community engagement, not to block the project. The resolution was referred to the Special Committee on Hope.
  • Tributes and Resolutions:
    • Resolution 26 honored the memory of Judge Frank Caprio, who passed away on August 20, 2025. Council members Taylor, Royus, Vargas, Rayas, and others delivered heartfelt tributes, describing him as a symbol of kindness, compassion, and justice. The resolution passed unanimously.
    • Resolution 29 honored Melvin F. Brundage (known as “Tank”), a longtime Providence resident and 22-year city maintenance employee who passed away on June 23, 2025, at age 64. Councilwoman Graves spoke of his community impact and devotion to family; the resolution passed unanimously.
    • Resolution 31 (read into the record) requests the Board of Park Commissioners rename Obadiah Brown Field and adjacent splash pad after Armand E. Battestini Jr., a lifelong resident, Navy veteran, former state representative, and youth sports coach. Councilwoman Ryan explained the field improvement and community vision; the resolution passed unanimously.
    • Resolutions 32 and 33 (Hispanic Heritage Month and related recognition) were read and passed unanimously. Council members Vargas, Rayas, and Sanchez spoke about the importance of Hispanic heritage and announced upcoming community events, including a parade on September 13, Guatemalan festivals, and a Mexican Independence Day festival.
  • Retirement and Departure Tributes: Council members gave warm tributes to retiring colleagues Helen Anthony (Ward 15), Dylan Conley (Board of Licenses), and Angela Harris (25 years in the city clerk’s office). Councilman Taylor, Councilwoman Graves, Councilman Rayas, and others praised their dedication, transparency, and professionalism.

Key Outcomes

  • All calendar items (4–51) were approved unanimously on voice votes, with referrals to respective committees as noted.
  • Resolution 30 (Gilbert Stewart School) was referred to the Special Committee on Hope for further review.
  • The meeting adjourned in the name of Judge Frank Caprio.

Meeting Transcript

Thumbs up all around. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this uh Previden City Council meeting on September 4th. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Council President Miller, present. Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois is absent. Majority Leader Espinall. Present. Councilwoman Graves. Present. Deputy Majority Leader Harris is absent. Councilwoman Peterson. Hi, Council President Pro Tempore Picciardo. Present. Councilor Royus. Present. Councilwoman Ryan. Present. Majority Whip Sanchez. Councilman Taylor. Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas. Here. You have ten present and four absent. You have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will everyone please rise for the invocation tonight? Counselors, as we are gathered here tonight, we know that the students are back to school. We know the teachers are back to school. And in many ways, we ourselves feel like a back to school moment. And I I know that we wish strength and blessings for everyone who's undertaking a new school year, a new project, and also for us as we recommit to our work to the city, um, to one another. As always, as we humble humbly ask for guidance so that the decisions we make here today support all of the residents of our great city and that we work with each other with integrity, we honor one another's uh opinions and uh personhood and decision making. Um I'd like to share a quote that was from the 1500s and is equally uh important today. As we contemplate the vast amount of work to be done for justice and peace in this world, we trust that we will find the grace to accomplish, to believe in, and to hope for the greatest things. As we gather here, we look for grace in the smallest things and are sustained by our confidence in God's presence in our work and in our gatherings from St. Peter Faber in the 1500s. And uh we express gratitude for each other for the work that we do and for the ability to be able to make the decisions and do the work ahead of us. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Majority Leader Espinell. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, walliberty, and justice for all. Madam Clerk, item three. Madam President. Majority leader. Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor. Any opposed, any abstentions? Hearing none, the motion passes. Item four.

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